Implement supporting structure



March 8, 1966 E. R. WIEMANN ETAL 3,239,168

IMPLEMENT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Original Filed April 8, 1963 5Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS EDWARD R. WlEMANN &

JOHN A.ANDERSON ATTORNEY March 8, 1966 R. WIEMANN ETAL 3,239,168

IMPLEMENT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 8,1963 INVENTORS EDWARD R.W|EMANN a JOHN A.ANDERSON va/1 M d W ATTORNEYMarch 8, 1966 E. R. WIEMANN ETAL 3,239,168

IMPLEMENT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Original Filed April 8, 1963 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS EDWARD R.WIEMANN 8\ JOHN A.ANDERSON ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-13) This is a division of US.patent application Ser. No. 271,355 filed April 8, 1963, now Patent No.3,215,282.

This invention relates to a supporting stand for an implement that maybe suspended on a tractor and preferably on the rear end of a tractor.Still more particularly this invention relates to a supporting standhaving vertically adjustable supporting legs and also means on the standfor permitting transverse adjustment of the implement relative to thestand and the tractor.

For purposes of illustration in the present invention, description ofthe implement will be relative to that of a conventional type backhoe.However, it should be recognized that other types of implements may beused with equal advantage on the type of supporting structure or standto be described.

In the conventional type backhoe, there is provided a supporting standmountable on the rear portion of a tractor and having a forward sidefacing away from the tractor that receives the backhoe implement. It isthe primary object of the present invention to provide a new and noveltype of upright and transversely disposed supporting stand extendingsubstantially the transverse expause of the tractor with upper and lowerforwardly open ing channels therein. The channels retain implementsupporting blocks capable of frictionally engaging the walls of thechannels so as to prevent transverse movement of the implement. However,if desired, the blocks may be adjusted to permit transverse movement andthe implement may therefore be moved transversely relative to thesupporting stand.

Other objects and advantages of the structure will become apparent tothose skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood from the following description and as shown in theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a forward and side perspective view of a portion of thebackhoe and the tractor.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the implement-supporting stand.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the implement-supporting stand.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the implement-supporting stand.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the implement-supporting stand and a portion ofthe backhoe supported thereon.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of FIG.5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of FIG.6.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the portion of the backhoe adjacentthe swivel structure of the backhoe.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the structure as shown in FIG. 9 showing adifiierent disposition of parts.

The implement is supported on a tractor having a main body 10, steerablewheels 11, and traction wheels 12. The tractor is controlled from anoperators station indicated by a steering wheel 13. The tractor also hasa conventional hydraulic system, not shown, but which has a pair ofhydraulic hoses 14, extending to and adapted for connection to theimplement.

3,Z39,lfi8 Iatentecl Mar. 8, i966 The supporting stand includes anupright transversely extending box-like structure 20 having transverselyspaced leftand right-hand upright side plates 21, 22, an upright reartransverse wall 23 and a forward upright transverse wall 24interconnecting the rear and front edges of the plates 21, 22. Alsoextending between the end plates 21, 22 are upper and lower box channels25, 26. -End channels shown in dotted representation 27, 28 extendbetween the upper and lower channels 25, 26 and with the latter channelssupply the framework for the supporting stand 20. An overhead panel 29closes the upper portion of the structure 20.

Projecting rearwardly from the rear wall 23 is a pair of uprightsupporting brackets 30, 31 spaced apart transversely and adapted forconnection to the tractor, pivotal connecting means, such as shown at32, 33, being provided for connection to the tractor. As is conventionalthe connections are such that the entire structure 20 and its implementmay be suspended from the end of the tractor.

Depending rigidly from the underside of the structure 20 is a pair ofbrackets 40, 41 spaced fore-and-aft and carrying a pair of fore-and-afthorizontal pivot pins 42, 43. Main stabilizing legs 44, 45 are pivotallymounted on the pivot pins 42, 43 and extend outwardly therefrom towardthe outer ends of the structure 20. The stabilizing leg portions 44, 45are of box construction and contain telescoping outer leg extensions 46,47. The leg extensions 46, 47 have therein a series of longitudinallyspaced openings such as is shown at 62 (FIG. 1) for receiving pins 38,39 extending through the respective leg portions 44, 45. The outer endsof the extensions 46, 4'7 carry ground-engaging pads 48, 49 by means ofpivot pins 50, 51.

U-shaped bracket structures 52, 54 project rearwardly from the rearfaces of the leg portions 44, 45 and support pivot pins 53, 55respectively. At the upper leftand right-hand corners of the uprightstructure 2% is provided a pair of U-shaped brackets 56, 57 respectivelysupporting fore-and-aft extending pivots 58, 59. The pivots extendrearwardly from the rear wall 23 and have supported thereon a pair ofextensible hydraulic units 60, 61 having lower ends supported on thefore-and-aft extending pivots 53, 55 respectively. As is clearlyapparent, therefore, the stabilizing legs may be raised and lowered andmay also be extended or retracted to the desired location. For example,if the backhoe is desired to be operated on a hill in which the groundlevel on one side of the hoe is higher than the other side, one of theleg structures may be extended and the cylinder extended a greaterlength to cause the respective pad on the leg structure to contact thelower level of ground. Also, should a previous excavation be locatedsomewhat nearer the location of the pad, the leg structure may beextended or retracted to move the pad a distance from the previousexcavation and on relatively solid ground.

The backhoe, shown only partially in FIGS. 1 and 5, is composed of aboom structure 65 pivotally mounted on a transverse pin 66 at its lowerend to a swivel cylinder 67. The swivel cylinder also has connected toits upper portion an extensible cylinder 68 for raising and lowering theboom structure 65. A swing cylinder 67 supports the boom 65 by means ofa pair of lower forwardly projecting arms 69 carrying the lower pivotpin 66, and a pair of upwardly projecting arms 70 carrying the pivot pinconnected to the upper cylinder 63. Also supported on the arms 70 is anupwardly projecting manifold block 71 disposed forwardly of the axis ofthe swing cylinder 67. The block 71 has various fluid hoses 72 extendingfrom a valve system, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral73, on the rear side of the swing cylinder 67 and contained within ahousing 74. The valve system is controlled by suitable levers, such asat 75, and feeds fluid through the manifold block and into various partsof the backhoe. Detailed description of the manifold block 71 is shownand described in U.S. Patent 3,120,897, issued February 11, 1964, andentitled Backhoe. As may be seen in H6. 8, the hoses 72 are so disposedas to cross over one another from one side of the axis of the cylinder67 between the rear valve block 73 to the forward manifold block 71. Thehoses 72 cross one another substantially on the vertical extension ofthe axis of the cylinder 67.

The swing cylinder 67 is swivelly mounted on a casting support having anupper horizontally disposed portion 80 and a lower horizontally disposedportion 81 suitably supporting a fixed post, not shown, which operatesas the axis of swivel for the swinging cylinder 67. The upper and lowerportions are interconnected by a rear vertically extending cast section82 lying against the forward upright wall 24. The upper surface of theupper casting portion 30 is level and has bolted thereto, as at 83, arearwardly projecting plate 84 overlying the upper panel wall 29 of themain supporting structure 20. The plate 84 is L- shaped with avertically disposed portion 85 projecting upwardly just rearwardly ofthe rear wall portion 23. The portion 85 is lbraced as at 91 to thehorizontal portion 84 for strength. Extending rearwardly from the rearupright face of the portion 85 is bracket structure 86 having pivotallymounted at 87 thereon a seat bracket 88. The bracket 88 is furthersupported by a releasable pin received in an arcuateslot 89 in thebracket 86. Consequently the seat bracket 88 may be swung upwardly ordownwardly for the convenience of the operator. Supported on the bracket88 is a seat 90.

The main plate 84 has a pair of upwardly projecting foot guards, one ofwhich is shown at 92, on opposite sides of the housing 74. As may beseen from viewing FIGS. 1, S and 8, the entire backhoe structureincluding valve structure 73, the seat 90 and manifold 71, is supportedbasically by the casting portions 80, 81 and 83. It should be noted thatif the casting is moved transversely along the frame structure 20, theseat will also move. However, the seat will remain stationary in thesense that it will always face forwardly and will not swivel as the boom65 and the other portions of the backhoe swivel from side to side.

Fixed to the upper and lower surface of the upper channel 25 is a pairof L-shaped channels 100, 101 projecting forwardly and having verticalleg portions extending toward one another to opposed edges 102, 103,defining a transverse horizontal slot extending completely across theforward surface of the main support 20. The channels 100, 101 are fixedto the channel 25 and the vertical leg portions are positioned forwardlyof the vertical forward side of the channel 25 so that the channels 100,101 define with the forward side a C-shaped channel extending across theforward side of the support 20. Upper and lower L-shaped channels 104,105 are fixed to the upper and lower portions of the channel 26 and insimilar manner so that their leg portions are opposed to one another andtheir edges 106, 107 respectively defined a transverse horizontal slotextending across the lower portion of the structure 20.

Contained within the upper and lower C-shaped channels are transverselyspaced block structures, indicated in their entirety by the referencenumeral 110, composed of a main portion 111, T-shaped in cross section,with a stem portion 112 extending into the slots defined by the edges102, 103 and 106, 107. The main portion 111 has a diagonal surface orramp 113. Bearing against the ramp surface 113 is a second ram followerportion 114 also having a diagonal surface 115. The two portions arejoined together by a bolt 116 threadedly received inan opening 117 inthe main portion 111. An elongated slot 118 is provided in the secondportion 114 so as to permit the second block portion 114 to movevertically or up and down the ramp surface 113 as the bolt is tightenedor withdrawn. The upper surface and corner of the second portion 114 isserrated at 119 so as to provide an improved frictional engagement withthe inner surface of the adjacent L-shaped channel member.

Projecting forwardly from each of the blocks 111 and through the slotsformed by the upper and lower edges 102, 103 and 106, 107 are threadedimplement mounting elements or studs 120. The studs extend throughopposite sides of the casting block 82 and receive nuts 121 that lockthe entire casting and consequently the entire implement to the blockstructures 110. Consequently by loosening the tightening nuts 116 andswinging the backhoe cylinders in a position to utilize the power of thecylinders, the entire backhoe assembly and support may be movedtransversely within the C-shaped channels formed by the upper beam 25and upper and lower L- shaped channels 100, 101 and the lower beam 26and the upper and lower L-shaped channels 104, 105. When it is desiredto tighten or loosen the bolts 116, a wrench may be inserted through therespective slots formed by the edges 102, 103 and 106, 107. It shouldalso be that when it is desired to move the backhoe to reposition italong the main structure 20, the seat 90 will move with the backhoestructure. However, when the swing cylinder 67 is utilized to swing thebackhoe boom and remainder of the backhoe, the seat will only faceforwardly and not be swung with the backhoe. It is believed that thisoffers considerable advantage over some of the prior uses in which theseat is connected directly to the backhoe boom 65 so as to swing withthe boom. Primarily among these advantages is the feature of safetysince in many instances the backhoe will swing at a high rate andconsequently if the seat 90 were rigid with it, there would be abruptswinging of the seat. Also, with many operators the swinging action ofthe seat about a relatively small axis creates rather an uncomfortablecondition.

In the modification of a structure shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the basicbox structure 20 is identical to that previously described. The maindifference lies in the stabilizing legs 130, 131. The latter arecomposed of a single boxlike structure having pads 132, 133 pivoted at134, 135 directly thereto. While the previous form of the invention usedtelescoping type stabilizing legs for extending the reach of thestabilizer, the present invention utilizes a bracket structure 136depending from the underside of the main box structure 20 and extendingsubstantially the entire length of the box structure. The bracketstructures 136 have a series of transversely spaced forc-and-aftextending pivot holes 137. The holes may receive pivot pins 138, 139that pivotally mount the stabilizer legs 130, 131 to the box structure20. Should it be desired to extend the legs 130, 131 beyond thetransverse expanse of the box structure, it is merely necessary toreposition the pivot pin 138 or 139 and their respective stabilizinglegs 130, 131 to a different pivot opening 137 in the bracket structure136. Such a reposition of the legs 130, 131 is shown in FIG. 10.Hydraulic cylinders 60, 61 extending between the frame structure 20 andthe stabilizing legs operate to raise and lower the legs 130, 131. Inorder to accommodate the transverse repositioning of the stabilizer legs130, 131, each leg is provided with longitudinally spaced openings 140,141 that receives pivot pins 142, 143 connecting the lower piston endsof the hydraulic units 60, 61. As is shown in FIG. 10, the legs 130, 131are positioned in their outermost positions on the frame structure 20,and the rams of the hydraulic units 160, 161 are connected to theinnermost openings 140, 141 of the legs.

While only one modification of the unit has been shown, it should berecognized that other forms and variations of the invention will becomeclearly apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, while thepresent forms have been shown and described for the purpose of clearlyand concisely illustrating the principles of the invention, it is notintended to limit or narrow the invention beyond the board concept setforth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tractor mountable supporting stand for an implement comprising: anupright structure disposed at one end of a tractor transversely to theline of travel and having transversely spaced ends and transverseupright front and rear sides facing the implement and tractorrespectively; rear mounting means on the structure adapted forconnection to and support on the tractor; means providing horizontal andparallel upper and lower C-shaped transverse channels extendingsubstantially the transverse length of the structure with the channelsopening forwardly and having upper and lower vertical lips spacedvertically apart to define transverse horizontal slots; transverselymovable block structures retained within the C-shaped channels, theblock structures having means thereon adjustable to engage and disengagethe walls of the channels and thereby lock and release respectively theblock structures against and for movement, the latter means beingadapted for adjustment externally of the upright structure; andforwardly extending implement connecting elements on the blockstructures extending through the respective slots.

2. A tractor mountable supporting stand for an implement comprising: anupright structure disposed at one end of a tractor transversely to theline of travel and having transversely spaced ends and transverseupright front and rear sides facing the implement and tractorrespectively; rear mounting means on the structure adapted forconnection to and support on the tractor; means providing horizontal andparallel upper and lower hollow transverse channels extendingsubstantially the transverse length of the structure, the channelshaving forwardly opening transverse horizontal slots; transverselymovable block structures retained within the channels, the blockstructure having thereon means for moving a part thereof to selectivelyengage and disengage the walls of the channels and thereby lock andrelease respectively the block structures against and for movement, thelatter means being adapted for control external of the upright structureto effect the movement of the movable part; and forwardly extendingimplement connecting elements on the block structures extending throughthe respective slots.

3. A tractor mountable supporting stand for an implement comprising: anupright structure disposed at one end of a tractor transversely to theline of travel and having transversely spaced ends and transverseupright front and rear sides facing the implement and tractorrespectively; rear mounting means on the structure adapted forconnection to and support on the tractor; means providing horizontal andparallel upper and lower hollow transverse channels extendingsubstantially the transverse length of the structure, the channelshaving forwardly opening transverse horizontal slots; transverselymovable block structures retained Within the channels, at least one ofthe block structures including a pair of rigid members having adjoiningand engaging inclined surfaces and meansfor adjusting the members alongtheir inclined surfaces whereby at least one of the members isadjustable to engage and disengage a wall of the respective channel andthereby lock and release respectively the block structure against andfor movement; and forwardly extending implement connecting elements onthe block structures extending through the respective slots.

4. A tractor mountable supporting stand for an implement comprising: anupright structure normally dispossed at one end of a tractortransversely to the line of travel and extending to oppositetransversely spaced ends, the structure being composed of upper andlower spaced apart and rigidly connected transverse beams; rear mountingmeans on the structure adapted for connection to and support on thetractor; means providing parallel upper and lower C-shaped transversechannels and extending substantially the transverse length of theupright structure with the channels opening forwardly and havingoverhanging upper and lower lips with opposed edges and defining upperand lower slots respectively; transversely movable block structuresretained within the chambers adjustable to frictionally engage theinternal walls of the chamber, the block structures being composed oftwo members having adjoining surfaces lying in an inclined plane wherebyone inclined surface defines an inclined ramp and the other defines aramp follower; adjusting means between the members for moving thefollower on the ramp surface; and forwardly projecting implementconnecting elements projecting from the block structures and through therespective slots.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,302,812 11/1942Stempel 248-16 2,994,446 8/1961 Auwelaer et a1 214-138 3,117,685 1/1964Davis 214138 3,156,488 11/1964 Kelly 280456 FOREIGN PATENTS 115,9169/1942 Australia.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

R, P. SEITTER, Assistant Examiner.

1. A TRACTOR MOUNTABLE SUPPORTING STAND FOR AN IMPLEMENT COMPRISING: ANUPRIGHT STRUCTURE DISPOSED AT ONE END OF A TRACTOR TRANSVERSELY TO THELINE OF TRAVEL AND HAVING TRANSVERSELY SPACED ENDS AND TRANSVERSEUPRIGHT FRONT AND REAR SIDES FACING THE IMPLEMENT AND TRACTORRESPECTIVELY; REAR MOUNTING MEANS ON THE STRUCTURE ADAPTED FORCONNECTION TO AND SUPPORT ON THE TRACTOR; MEANS PROVIDING HORIZONTAL ANDPARALLEL UPPER AND LOWER C-SHAPED TRANSVERSE CHANNELS EXTENDINGSUBSTANTIALLY THE TRANSVERSE LENGTH OF THE STRUCTURE WITH THE CHANNELOPENING FORWARDLY AND HAVING UPPER AND LOWER VERTICAL LIPS SPACEDVERTICALLY APART TO DEFINE TRANSVERSE HORIZONTAL